Lifeflight to Miami

It’s our first pediatrician appointment and I can still remember the drive to the office. It was scheduled for us, since we are not from Naples and didn’t know any pediatricians at the hospital. I’m glad I have two students that are young and coincidentally have the same pediatrician. We are lined up for the future, but today is an important day and it’s because we hear a heart murmur. Thankfully, the area is big enough to have a pediatric cardiologist and Galina’s appointment is the next day. My goodness, to see 10 cords placed on my baby girl was a little unnerving as she was not comfortable with this testing. The doctor found that the two great arteries were switched. It’s rare, but it’s common enough they can do the surgery. Without surgery she would die. We are given choices of Tampa, Gainesville, Fort Lauderdale and Miami that can perform this surgery. We choose Miami since the cardiologist has worked closely with them and on a regular basis. Within 2 hours Lifeflight is to pick up Galina and mom and whisk them to Miami. I will follow behind with car, clothes and anything else we think we need. My birthday can wait as my little baby is all I’m thinking about. We talk with Dr. Guleserian, one of the two cardiology surgeons that handle the program, and she explains the surgery. Thankfully, Galina’s arteries are the same thickness and will only need to be switched. That was a load of relief avoiding plastic, cadavers or other animal valves. 8 days old and going to have transposition of the two great arteries surgery. How is this possible on such a small baby? We are grateful to have the capabilities of such a surgery here in the United States. But, what’s going to happen?